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By Erika Norton, WPAOG Senior Multimedia JournalistEmbodying “Duty, Honor, Country” in every step, Old Grads marched alongside the Class of 2030 as the newest members of the Long Gray Line completed their 12-mile journey from Lake Frederick to West Point, marking the culmination of Cadet Basic Training and the start of their first academic year at the Academy. More than 400 West Point graduates—th

The U.S. Army announced Friday that BG Nicholas H. Gist ’94 has been confirmed as the 16th Dean of the Academic Board at the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point. He officially assumed the duties of Dean during a ceremony held on Aug. 7.As Dean, Gist serves as the Academy’s chief academic officer, overseeing West Point’s academic program and faculty while ensuring the continued exce

By Erika Norton, WPAOG Senior Multimedia Journalist The West Point Association of Graduates received a handcrafted wooden American flag from recent Class of 2026 graduate 2LT Bobby Reuter as a special gift in honor of America’s 250th Birthday this year. Reuter, who graduated with an economics and American Foundations degree, started constructing wooden American flags when he was a 17-year-old livi

Then-Cadet Ananya Ganesh ’26 did not expect to be a math major. Then-Cadet Babe “BK” Kwasniak ’26 was planning to study history. Together, they are using one of the most counterintuitive concepts in mathematics to solve one of the Army’s most pressing drone vulnerabilities. The problem starts with a step back in technology. While huge advancements have been made in securing digital communications,

Class of 2026 Then-Cadets Boston Graf, Maksymilian Olszowka and Elizabeth “Ezra” Bardales labored on a capstone project, a philosophy-centric venture as part of the Department Law and Philosophy, focusing on the “Training Ethical Employment of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems,” or TEELAWS.The capstone explored software designed by Perceptronics Solutions Inc., in collaboration with the U.S. Milit

By Erika Norton, WPAOG Senior Multimedia JournalistWest Point Glee Club alumni raised their voices together during a four-day reunion July 16–19, celebrating the friendships, traditions and music that have connected generations of singers since the club’s founding in 1903.Seventy-one alumni singers were joined by family members and guests, bringing total reunion attendance to 133. The weekend feat

WPAOG held its West Point Survivor Community Weekend over the Fourth of July holiday at West Point and nearby Windrose on Hudson. The four-day event included interactive sessions presented by our grief experts and partners, TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Programs for Survivors), with a focus on communication and grief support. Attendees also took tours of Constitution Island and the Kimsey Center, and p

Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy are enhancing battlefield adaptability with a new weapon mount that increases the versatility of the Army’s next-generation M250 automatic rifle. In support of the 2026 Projects Day Research Symposium focus on supporting the warfighter, cadets in the Small Caliber Weapon Mount capstone design team developed solutions for real-world applications. Through collabor

As unmanned aerial vehicles continue to shape the landscape of war, a team of West Point cadets collaborated at the cutting edge of autonomous study through the Swarm Troopers research project in the lead-up to the Projects Day Research Symposium, April 23 at the U.S. Military Academy. This research aims to use drones to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to determine the locati

As a Division I wrestler, Class of 2026 Then-Cadet Cole Stone developed an interest in human performance through training and weight cutting for competition. That curiosity deepened two years ago during a treadmill run, sparking a question about the limits of the human body and how lessons from combat sports could apply to Soldiers operating in austere conditions.With the 2026 Projects Day Researc

By Erika Norton, WPAOG Senior Multimedia Journalist On the evening of July 7, 2026, graduates from across the Long Gray Line gathered virtually to celebrate a milestone that transformed the United States Military Academy forever: the 50th anniversary of the day women first entered the Corps of Cadets.Hosted by Donna Brazil ’83, the online celebration honored the 119 women of the Class of 1980 who

COL David W. Hensel ’01 assumed command of the 193rd Infantry Brigade during a June 26 change of command ceremony at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.Commissioned from the U.S. Military Academy in 2001, Hensel brings more than two decades of Army leadership and special operations experience to the role. After completing the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2006, he served with the 1st Special Fo

Mike Ross, a 1990 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, has been promoted to president of HD Construction Equipment Hyundai North America.Ross will oversee the company’s business strategy and continued growth across the United States and Canada. He succeeds Stan Park, who retired after serving as president since 2021.After earning a degree in economics, Ross served six years as an A

Marcus Plunkett ’16 punched his ticket to his first major championship by qualifying for the 154th Open Championship during Final Qualifying on June 30. He will make his debut at Royal Birkdale when golf’s oldest major is played July 16–19. The 32-year-old secured his spot by finishing tied for fourth at Dundonald Links, the final qualifying venue in Scotland. He carded rounds of 69 and 72 to fini

An update from Mark D. Bieger ’91, President & CEO, West Point AOGAs our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, I’m reminded that its strength has never been abstract – it has been forged and carried forward by generations of Americans who chose to serve. Among them, graduates of West Point have stood at the center of our nation’s defining moments, helping to shape its past through leadership an

By Erika Norton, WPAOG Senior Multimedia JournalistOn June 29, the 50-Year Affiliate Class of 1980 returned to West Point to welcome the incoming Class of 2030 and their families for R-Day. From the early morning arrivals at Eisenhower Hall to the Oath Ceremony on the Plain, the “Pride and Excellence” Class of ’80 offered heartfelt support to the newest members of the Long Gray Line.Over 30 gradua

Standing Where Others Fell  In the summer of 2025, Then-Cadet Amani Haskins ’26 and a group of fellow West Point cadets stood at a monument in the French countryside – the sister monument of one they had seen only weeks before in Harlem, New York. Same stone. Same shape. Same names. An ocean apart. Haskins explained, “I got to stand at the 93rd Division monument [in France] and explain the impact”

Brigadier General Joseph Katz ’99 assumed command as the 82nd Commandant of Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy during a change of command ceremony on June 25. The ceremony marked the transition of leadership from the 81st Commandant, BG R.J. Garcia ’96, to Katz.“It is the honor of a lifetime to return to West Point and serve as Commandant of Cadets. Our mission remains clear: we will develop lead

50-Year Affiliate Class of 1979 Gripped Hands, Presented Flag to ClassBy Rebecca Rose, WPAOG Multimedia ProducerThe Class of 2029 graduated from Cadet Field Training II and received their Class Flag on June 24, marking another milestone in their West Point journey. Members of their 50-Year Affiliate Class of 1979 attended the ceremony and presented the class with their Class Flag. After the ceremo

The West Point Association of Graduates is proud to recognize members of the Long Gray Line who have been selected for promotion to the rank of Colonel (COL) or Lieutenant Colonel (LTC).Graduates from the Classes of 1999 through 2013 have reached this pivotal moment, a testament to years of dedication, resilience, and exceptional performance.These leaders have served through decades marked by glob